Key Takeaways
- Legacy Star Trek shows rarely delved into horror genre unlike modern Trek which is more open to it.
- Star Trek: TNG episode “Genesis” combines body horror with monster mayhem, deviating from typical Trek episodes.
- Lower Decks episode “Upper Decks” pays hilarious homage to “Genesis” with a de-evolution virus subplot.
As a long-time fan of Star Trek, I must say that the episode “Genesis” stands out as one of the most unique and intriguing episodes in the franchise. The plot is not only captivating but also showcases the creativity and ingenuity that the writers bring to the table.
As a dedicated gamer, I’ve always been a fan of the legendary Star Trek franchise, one that has left an indelible mark on the world of media. However, what sets Star Trek apart from many other sci-fi series is its avoidance of the horror genre, a territory often ventured into by other shows and films in the science fiction realm. This is especially true for the classic Star Trek shows. It’s only recently that modern Star Trek has begun to delve into the realm of horror, but the original series kept its forays into this genre quite limited, exploring it only in a handful of episodes.
In the seventh season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, an exceptional instance of horror was presented in the episode titled “Genesis.” This installment masterfully blended elements of body horror and monster chaos, surpassing the usual action-horror portrayed in episodes like those featuring the Borg or the psychological terror depicted in episodes such as “Frame of Mind” and “Phantasms.” It stands out among Star Trek episodes for its genuine shock moments.
In an entertaining twist reminiscent of traditional Star Trek: Lower Decks style, the recent episode titled “Star Trek: Lower Decks, “Upper Decks,” paid tribute to the classic storyline known as “Genesis.” Rather than delivering the usual strange and disturbing body transformations, the writers instead offered viewers a side-splitting Cro-Magnon ensign serenading with a sousaphone. To help understand the amusing reference, here’s a brief recap of “Genesis.
De-Evolution
The story opens with Reginald Barclay visiting sickbay, arguing that he has one of several uncommon diseases. However, this turns out not to be a typical Barclay-centric episode. Instead, Dr. Beverly Crusher diagnoses him with a mild alien flu, as the human immunity-producing gene is inactive in his genetic makeup. She administers a hypospray containing a particular T-cell to stimulate the immune gene and sends him off.
Within hours, things start to get weird on the Enterprise-D. Worf is one of the first to exhibit strange behavior. He gets even more aggressive than usual, he’s ravenous all the time, and he’s obsessed with ravaging Counselor Deanna Troi, whom he’s dating. That relationship is one of the subtle horrors of this episode…but that’s another subject.
Following an interaction with Worf, Counselor Troi starts behaving oddly. She’s perpetually chilly, persistently thirsty, and has an unusual urge for a very warm bath. In due course, Barclay and Commander Riker also exhibit peculiar behavior. Barclay seems to be operating at twice the normal speed, while Riker finds it difficult to sort out his thoughts and recall details.
As I soak in a steamy bath, my quarters transformed into a tropical paradise, Worf suddenly bursts in, attacking me with an intensity that only Klingons can muster. In a moment reminiscent of ancient rituals, he bites my cheek – a claim no doubt meant for our union. In shock, I call for help and Troi summons security. Both of us find ourselves in sickbay. Strange symptoms are affecting several crew members, leading Dr. Crusher to suspect a mysterious virus sweeping through the ship.
During Dr. Crusher’s examination of Worf, she finds unusual venom sacs beneath his jaw. Upon requesting him to open his mouth, he releases a destructive acid from these sacs towards her. Nurse Alyssa Ogawa then places her in a stasis field while they search for a remedy. Meanwhile, Worf manages to escape sickbay, with a group of security officers hot on his trail.
Data and Captain Picard, having been away on a mission, return to the Enterprise-D in disarray. As they assess the damage and search for their missing crew members, they come across creatures that can only be described as monstrous. The horror intensifies when their scanners detect unidentifiable life signs all over the ship. Initially, they locate Counselor Troi, submerged in her bathtub. She has been altered into a being with both human and amphibian traits. Subsequently, they stumble upon Riker, who appears to have undergone a Cro-Magnon-like evolution.
According to the data, it seems each crew member is regressing to their species’ early forms, such as Riker’s current state suggesting this. It appears that Betazoids originally stemmed from amphibians. Upon examining Riker’s genetic makeup, Data finds that certain genes within his genome have become active.
How the De-Evolution Virus Works
In simpler terms, these dormant gene segments, known as introns, once played a role in creating ancestral characteristics during earlier stages of evolution. As these traits faded away during the course of species development, these genes remained inactive within the genome. A theory suggests that somehow, all the introns within each individual’s genetic makeup have been reactivated.
Upon examining the computer records, he determines that the T-cell treatment administered by Dr. Crusher inadvertently ignited all Barclay’s introns, not just the sleeping gene associated with resistance to alien flu immunity. These activated T-cells multiplied, became airborne, and spread infection among the rest of the crew. Data alerts Captain Picard that he too has contracted the virus, and soon he will undergo a process of reversing evolution.
In Data’s living space, they find that his pet iguana, Spot, has contracted the T-cell virus due to being an iguana rather than a cat. Interestingly, Spot’s kittens remain unaffected, leading Data and Picard to infer that the placental barrier shielded them from the virus. Data then speculates that human amniotic fluid could offer similar protection, potentially enabling him to design a cure using samples from a placenta. To test this theory, they must locate Nurse Ogawa, who announced her pregnancy earlier that day.
Data To The Rescue
During their pursuit of Nurse Ogawa and the vaccine creation, Data and Picard run into numerous frightening beings. In the engineering section, they stumble upon Barclay, now a hybrid of human and spider. Meanwhile, in sickbay, they detect a colossal creature attempting to force its way in. The tricorder reveals that this beast carries Klingon genetic material.
In the course of Data locating Nurse Ogawa and commencing his investigation, Worf persistently beats upon the infirmary entrance. Given that Data is occupied, Captain Picard elects to divert Worf’s attention and steps into the hallways. The being he stumbles upon bears no resemblance to Worf; it has transformed into a dinosaur-like creature, boasting a robust external skeleton and plates reminiscent of a Stegosaurus adorning its head and limbs. Picard manages to grab Worf’s notice and instigates a nerve-wracking and unsettling chase throughout the Enterprise-D, delivering some of the most effective jump scares in the episode.
After discovering that a cure could be created using Ogawa’s amniotic fluid, he immediately begins working on its production. Upon completion of the antiviral solution, he distributes it throughout the ship’s ventilation system to ensure that the entire crew is inoculated.
Eventually, Barclay jests that it was all his doing, and Dr. Crusher tells him she plans to call the virus by his name because he was the first case.
De-Evolution in Lower Decks
In the TV show “Upper Decks,” the de-evolution virus isn’t the central storyline, but rather one of several intriguing subplots hidden like Easter eggs. One of the human ensigns on the U.S.S. Cerritos becomes infected with a variant of the Barclay virus, although it’s not referred to by that name. In this case, she transforms into a Cro-Magnon physically, yet her intellect soars and she develops psychic abilities. Consequently, she can still perform on the sousaphone despite her de-evolved state, which is similar to a caveman’s.
In the given episode, though the ensign appears to be healing, she retains an ancient appearance and traces of her heightened mental capacities. Her primitive power, coupled with her advanced intellect, prove useful when the team encounters the weekly alien threat. While the allusion is subtle, like many Easter eggs in Lower Decks, it’s a charming tribute to “Genesis,” one of Star Trek’s more unsettling horror episodes.
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2024-12-07 22:07